The Son Bistro - Vietnamese Kitchen, Craft beer & Bar — Restaurant in Hội An

We originally stopped in at Son Bistro just for a cocktail and a quick snack, but it quickly turned into one of our favourite dining experiences in Vietnam. The cocktails were the best we’ve had so far on our trip—beautifully balanced, inventive, and expertly made. After the first round, we didn’t hesitate to order another two.

A big part of what made the visit so enjoyable was Tan, our waiter. He was welcoming, attentive, and great to chat with—his passion for the food and drinks really came through and added a personal touch to the whole evening.

We ended up staying for dinner and were glad we did. We tried both a local dish, Cao Lau, and an Italian classic, Spaghetti Carbonara. I always like ordering carbonara in Asian countries to see how it’s interpreted—here it was spot on: al dente pasta, high-quality ingredients, and a perfect balance of flavours. You could really taste the care and restraint in the cooking.

Son Bistro is one of those places where great food, great drinks, and great people come together effortlessly....

Our family had the worst experience at this place.

We were guided to the second floor with air conditioning.

Before our beers even arrived, a cockroach the size of a palm crawled across one of our family member’s feet.

While calling a staff member to handle the insect, I witnessed a middle-aged man smoking inside the second-floor kitchen.

I immediately requested to cancel our order.

The staff explained that the man was not a kitchen worker, but that was not the point. The problem was that smoking was happening inside the kitchen where food is prepared.

Since the beers were already ready, we decided to have only those and leave.

However, while drinking, one of us spotted a rat on the ceiling beam. We couldn’t even finish our beers and left right away.

The rat disappeared into a hole that had been drilled for CCTV installation.

All of this happened within just 20 minutes. The staff was kind, but the combination of smoking in the kitchen, poor hygiene, cockroaches, and rats made it the worst experience...

I visited The Son Bistro in Hoi An for dinner and was drawn in by the stylish setup and cozy ambiance — candle-lit tables, nice music, and a relaxed, slightly upscale vibe. The menu looked promising with a variety of Vietnamese dishes and grilled skewers.

The standout for me was the seafood — the shrimp, squid, and chicken skewers were fresh, well-seasoned, and paired nicely with the dipping sauces. I also enjoyed the green papaya salad; it was zesty, refreshing, and balanced really well with the crispy prawn crackers.

However, the beef skewers were unfortunately a miss. The meat was chewy and cold by the time it reached the table, which really took away from the experience. For the price and presentation, I expected better quality.

Service was polite and the setting is lovely, especially if you're sitting outdoors in the evening. Overall, it has potential — maybe I caught them on an off night — but I’d recommend sticking to the seafood and...